Updating objects contained within a webpage

ABSTRACT

Selectively updating objects of webpage without requiring that the entire web page be refreshed, without Java applets and without requiring user intervention. A webpage is defined to contain a frame and at least one updateable object that is external to the frame. The frame attributes of height and width may each be set to a value of zero, rendering it invisible on the displayed webpage. The frame is configured to periodically request updated data from a server in response to a timer reaching a threshold value. The updated data may comprise a Script or other instruction set for causing the frame to update at least one updateable object. The Script or other instruction set may be executable by the frame without user interaction. The Script may instruct the frame to interact with, for example, an external Script running within the webpage external to the frame. The external Script may interact with and modify the updateable object, which may be an HTML element, without refreshing the web page.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates generally to a method and system forselectively updating objects on a webpage, and more specifically toproviding automatic updating of webpage objects without the need forrefreshing the entire webpage.

BACKGROUND

Oftentimes, the content of a webpage is dynamic in nature. In somecases, changes to the content occur every few moments, as updatedinformation is placed on a webpage. For example, stock market tickersand live camera feeds seen across the Internet may frequently sendupdated information to a web browser. This permits a nearly continuousmedia stream, which in turn keeps an observer informed ofup-to-the-minute or time-critical events.

Many current implementations of dynamic webpages require that thewebpage be frequently refreshed in order to display the newestinformation. A refresh action may be automatic (e.g., initiated by atimer) or may be initiated manually by the user. Manually refreshing awebpage consumes the user's time and attention. Additionally, refreshinga webpage requires that the entire webpage be reloaded, introducingsignificant time losses from retransmitting information that has notchanged.

An alternate method of continuously updating a webpage includes the useof Java applets to receive information transmitted by an applicationprogram running on a remote server, hereinafter referred to as a“server-side application.” Typically, the server-side applicationgenerates dynamically updated content that is then requested by orotherwise transmitted to a Java applet executed by a web browser at alocal network client. By implementing a server-side application incombination with a local Java applet, the requirement of userintervention to refresh a page may be eliminated. However, thisimplementation is limited by the fact that the Java applet may only makechanges to itself or to objects displayed within the applet. In the casewhere an object requiring updating is not a part of the applet, auser-initiated manual refresh is again required, or the Java applet mustmake use of the browser feature known as “LiveConnect”. LiveConnect is atechnology that allows a Java applet to communicate with JavaScriptobjects, and/or plug-in objects. Many web browsers, however, do notsupport the use of Java applets or the “LiveConnect” feature.

Thus, there is a need in the art for a method of updating objectscontained within a webpage without requiring either a manual orautomatic refresh of the webpage or the use of a Java applet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the above described needs by providing forperiodic updates of selective portions of a webpage without requiringthat the entire webpage be reloaded (“refreshed”), and without userintervention or the use of Java applets. Generally speaking, theinvention takes the form of a webpage containing a frame and at leastone updateable object that is external to the frame. In one embodiment,the frame is an inline frame, which is also known as an “IFRAME.” Anexemplary embodiment of the present invention sets the height and widthof the frame to zero, rendering it invisible on the displayed webpage soas not to detract from the overall visual design of the webpage. Theframe is configured to periodically request updated data from a server.The frame may be configured to request the updated data from the serverin response to a timer reaching a threshold value. The updated data maycomprise, for example, an instruction set for causing the frame toupdate at least one updateable object. The frame is also configured, inresponse to receiving the updated data, to cause the appropriateupdateable object to be updated. An updateable object may comprise anHTML element. The instruction set may comprise a Script generated by aserver-side application, such as a servlet. The Script can be executedby the frame without user interaction. The Script may instruct the frameto interact with an external Script running within the webpage externalto the frame. The external Script may interact with and modify the HTMLelement (updateable object) without refreshing the web page.

In an illustrative embodiment, the present invention is used fordisplaying on a webpage dynamically changing conditions within abuilding HVAC system. A server or other network element receives from asensor an indication of a first state of a condition within the buildingHVAC system. The server or other network element then transmits to a webbrowser executed by a client device a webpage including an invisibleinline frame and an updateable object, the updateable object displayingthe first state of the condition within the building HVAC system. Theserver or other network element next receives from the sensor anindication of a second state of the condition within the building HVACsystem. In response to receiving the indication of the second state ofthe condition, the server or other network element generates aninstruction set for instructing the invisible inline frame to cause theupdateable object to display the second state of the condition withoutrefreshing the webpage.

That the invention improves over the drawbacks of prior webpage updatesystems and accomplishes the advantages described above will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of certain exemplaryembodiments and the appended drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary operatingenvironment for exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a web page defined by a webpage data filein accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3, comprising FIG. 3A & FIG. 3B, is an illustration of a webpagedisplaying dynamically updated conditions within a building HVAC systemin accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating operation of an exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides content updates to a webpage displayed ina web browser, without the need for refreshing the entire webpage orrequiring any user input or the use of Java applets. An exemplaryembodiment of the present invention takes the form of a webpagecomprising a frame for automatically updating updateable display objectsexternal to the frame. Although any frame construct may be used inaccordance with the present invention, the exemplary embodiments will bedescribed herein with reference to an inline frame, or “IFRAME.” AnIFRAME is an HTML element that allows webpage authors to insert a framein the middle of a webpage. Thus, for example, an IFRAME may be insertedwithin a block of text. An IFRAME functions as a distinct web browserwindow embedded within the main web browser window. Thus, the main webbrowser window may display a first webpage and the IFRAME may display asecond webpage. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,however, the IFRAME is not used for displaying content. Instead, theIFRAME may be rendered invisible within the main web browser window bysetting both its height and width attributes to a value of zero.Rendering the frame invisible is not a requirement of the presentinvention. However, an invisible frame is preferable so as not detractfrom the overall visual presentation of the webpage.

In conjunction with the web browser, the invisible IFRAME is capable ofretrieving updated data from a remote server hosting server-sideapplication. The invisible IFRAME may be configured to automatically andperiodically contact the server-side application in order to request theupdated data. When contacted by the invisible IFRAME, the server-sideapplication may generate or otherwise retrieve the requested updatedinformation and communicate the requested updated information to theinvisible IFRAME. In an exemplary embodiment, the invisible IFRAME andthe server-side application may communicate using the well-knownhypertext transfer protocol (“HTTP”) or other protocols known to thoseskilled in the art. Alternate embodiments may use different datatransfer protocols to effect the invisible IFRAME request andserver-side application response.

The updated data transmitted by the server-side application to theIFRAME may be used by the IFRAME to update updateable objects that areincluded within the webpage displayed by the main web browser window,external to the IFRAME. By way of example, an updateable object maycomprise data displayed in another (visible) IFRAME. Updateable objectsmay also comprise data displayed by Java applets, Javascripts, or HTMLelements. In this manner, selected updateable objects within the webpagemay be automatically updated without requiring a complete refresh of theentire main webpage.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent likeelements throughout the several figures, aspects of the presentinvention and a suitable operating environment therefore will bedescribed. FIG. 1 and the following discussion are intended to provide abrief and general description of a suitable computing environment forimplementation of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Theinvention will herein be described in the general context of a webpagedisplayed by an application program, such as a web browser, that runs inconjunction with an operating system on a personal computer. However,those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may also beimplemented within the context of other computer system configurations,including minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Theinvention may also be practiced in distributed computing environmentswhere tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linkedthrough a communication network.

In an exemplary embodiment, a server-side application 102 resides on aserver 104 that is in communication with a network 106, such as aninternet or an intranet. The network 106 may comprise a telephonewireline and/or wireless network, a cellular network, a satellitenetwork, a broadband network, and/or any other wireless or wire-basednetwork. The server-side application 102 may be created using the Javaprogramming language, for example. Alternate embodiments may employdifferent types of server-side applications, which may be created usingdifferent programming languages. Server-side applications may includeservlets, Javascripts, CGI scripts, or any service capable of generatingcommands and interpretable and executable by a web browser 112.

One or more web page data files 103 are stored on, or are otherwiseaccessible to, the server 104. Web page data files 103 may comprise HTMLcode, XML code, server hypertext markup language (“SHTML”) code, DHTML,Lynx and/or code generated in any other hypertext-like language. Webpage data files 103 are transmitted over the network 106 to a client108. A client 108 may be a personal computer, a laptop or handheldcomputer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, or anyother processor-driven device. A client 108A may execute a web browser112 or other suitable application program for requesting, receiving andinterpreting a webpage data file 103 and displaying the resultingwebpage 105. The webpage 105 is typically displayed on a display device116 within a web browser display window 118. In accordance with thepresent invention, the webpage data file 103 defines a webpage 105 thatincludes an invisible IFRAME 107 and an updateable object 120. Theinvisible IFRAME 107 is configured to cause an update of the updateableobject 120, in response to updated data received from the server-sideapplication 102. The invisible IFRAME 107 is shown in the figures as adotted rectangle for the purpose of concept illustration only. Inpractice, the invisible IFRAME 107 is not visible on the webpage 105 asa result of setting its height, width and any other visibilityattributes to a value of zero.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a web page 105 defined by a webpagedata file 103 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The web page 105 contains an invisible IFRAME 107, anupdateable object 120 and a nonupdateable object 220. The nonupdateableobject 220 comprises content that will not be altered by the presentinvention and generally remains unchanged over time on the webpage 105.By contrast, the updateable object 120 comprises content that is meantto change over time. An updateable object 120 may be, for example, anHTML element that is assigned a unique identifier within the code thatdefines the webpage 105. In the example of FIG. 2, the updateable object120 comprises a display of the time of day, which obviously must beupdated in order to provide accurate information. The nonupdateableobject 220 comprises a display of information to identify the display ofthe time of day as such.

The invisible IFRAME 107 may be configured to automatically andperiodically request updated data from a remote server 104. In order toset the time intervals between requests for updated data, a timer may beexecuted by the invisible IFRAME 107, by the web browser 112 or by anyother program module that interacts with the invisible IFRAME 107. Byway of example, the invisible IFRAME 107 may execute a timer thatrepeatedly counts from zero to an administrator-defined threshold value.When the timer reaches the threshold value, the invisible IFRAME 107 maybe instructed to generate a request for updated data to the server 104.Implementation of various suitable timer schemes is well known to thoseskilled in the art and will therefore not be described in further detailherein.

In an exemplary embodiment, the timer is located at the client 108A andnot the server 104, in order to avoid implementing a “server push”scheme. Server push refers to the transmission of data from a server 104either continuously or at periodic intervals, without any data requestfrom the web browser 112. An exemplary embodiment avoids a server pushdue to the fact that server pushes are blocked by certain firewalls.Further, some Internet service providers (ISPs) and/or clients 108 a may“timeout” and disconnect from the network 106 unless the web browser 112occasionally transmits a data request to a server 104. By avoiding theserver push implementation, the possibility of client timeout isminimized.

The updated data requested by the invisible IFRAME 107 is generated bythe server-side application 102 or by another service in communicationwith the server 104. In a preferred embodiment, the updated datacomprises JavaScript and the server-side application 102 comprises aJava servlet and/or Java Server Pages (JSP). As is known in the art,JavaScript comprises a list of commands that can be executed by theinvisible IFRAME 107 without user interaction. The JavaScript receivedand executed by the invisible IFRAME 107 may cause the invisible IFRAME107 to interact with other JavaScript that is executed by the webbrowser 112 in connection with the main webpage 105. For convenience ofreference only, the JavaScript that is executed by the web browser 112in connection with the main webpage 105 is referred to herein as“external JavaScript” because it is external to the invisible IFRAME107. Then, in a normal fashion, the external Javascript can interactwith and modify HTML elements, such as updateable object 120, within thewebpage 105. More particularly, the JavaScript received from theserver-side application 102 may instruct the invisible IFRAME 107 topass an updated value to the external JavaScript. The externalJavaScript in turn uses the updated value to update the updateableobject 120.

In the simple example shown in FIG. 2, the invisible IFRAME 107 mayreceive updated data from a remote server 104 at set intervals, whichenables the invisible IFRAME 107 to update the time of day (updateableobject 120) displayed in the web page 105. Thus, whenever an embeddedtimer reaches a threshold value, the invisible IFRAME 107 requests andreceives updated data from the server-side application 102, andaccordingly updates the time of day updateable object 120 withoutrequiring the user to refresh the entire web page 105. As a practicalmatter, of course, the local timer could be used to update the displayedtime of day without the need for communication with the remote server104. Thus, while not a practical use for the present invention, theexample described with reference to FIG. 2 serves to illustrate theconcept of the present invention.

The use of an invisible IFRAME 107 to automatically update updateableobjects 120 without the need to refresh the entire webpage 105 is notonly more convenient to the user, but is also more efficient in terms ofbandwidth consumption. By updating only specific updateable objects 120rather than an entire webpage 105, the size of the data packets involvedin the communications between the client 108 and the server 104 isreduced, resulting in faster and more efficient updates of theupdateable objects 120. The efficiency of the present invention will, ofcourse, be more recognizable in webpages 105 employing many updateableobjects 120 as well as a significant amount of static content.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the updated data receivedby the invisible IFRAME 107 may alternately take other forms, such asHTML code, XML code, and so on. The updated data may further compriseraw data relayed from any network element. In one embodiment, theinvisible IFRAME 107 may be self-determinative, in that it may beconfigured to process raw data in order to determine the updated valuesto pass to the external JavaScript, as opposed to directly receiving theupdated values from the server-side application 102.

The HTML source code necessary to create the exemplary web page 105 andinvisible IFRAME 107 of FIG. 2 is as follows:

-   -   <HTML>    -   <BODY>        -   <IFRAME src=“time.jsp” width=“0” height=“0”        -   style=“visibility:hidden”>    -   </IFRAME>    -   The time is : <SPAN id=“timeDiv”>???</SPAN>    -   </BODY,    -   </HTML

The server-side application 102 may periodically generate updated data(e.g., Javascript instructions) that are transmitted to the exemplaryinvisible IFRAME 107 of FIG. 2. A sample Java Server Page (JSP) forgenerating updated data is as follows:

<HTML>

<SCRIPT>

-   -   window.parent.timeDiv.innerHTML=“<%=new

java.util.Date( ) %>”;

-   -   function refresh( ) {location.href=location.href; }    -   setTimeout (refresh, 2000);

</SCRIPT>

</HTML>

Again, the above code examples are provided by way of illustration onlyand are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in anymanner. Alternate embodiments may use different forms of source code,updated data and/or server-side applications 102 without departing fromeither the spirit or scope of the invention.

As mentioned above, the present invention may be useful in a web pageemploying many updateable objects 120. One possible application for thepresent invention is in the monitoring and display of airflow conditionswithin a building, as shown in FIG. 3. In the example of FIG. 3,comprising FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, a web browser display window 118displays a web page 105 representing an updateable schematic 300 of HVACductwork located within a building, such as an office building, a home,a warehouse, or any other building or facility. The building may becollocated at the client 108, the remote server 104, or may be inanother location. Regardless of the building location, various portionsof its HVAC system may contain small sensors that monitor conditionssuch as temperature, humidity, and/or other factors important inmaintaining properly balanced airflow. It is well known that suchsensors may periodically relay monitored data to a network device (e.g.,a server 104), which may process the monitored data to determine updateddata that reflects changes in comfort or environmental control levels.

The server 104 may then communicate the updated data to a client 108Afor display on the web page 105. The webpage 105 includes an invisibleIFRAME 107 and several updateable objects 120A-F that may be changed asactual conditions within the HVAC system change. The invisible IFRAME107 periodically requests the updated data from the server 104. Theupdated data may be in the form of a Script or other instruction setthat instructs the invisible IFRAME 107 to interact with the code (e.g.,JavaScript) of the webpage data file 103 in order to modify one or moreof the updateable objects 120A-F, so as to reflect changes in comfortlevel, air flow, etc.

In FIG. 3A, the webpage 105 displays a first state of an updateable HVACduct schematic 300. The web page displays several updateable objects120A-F, including the incoming airflow updateable object 120A, theairflow temperature updateable object 120B, the main outgoing airflowupdateable object 120C, the sectional outgoing airflow updateable object120D, the damper position updateable object 120E, and the damper displayupdateable object 120F. In the first state of the updateable HVAC ductschematic 300, the incoming airflow updateable object 120A displays avalue of 2300 cubic feet per minute (CFM), the airflow temperatureupdateable object 120B displays a value of 62 degrees Fahrenheit, andthe damper position updateable object 120E indicates that the damper is43% open. The damper display 120F may be animated in an exemplaryembodiment to show the damper opening and closing.

When the web page 105 is first loaded, a timer (not shown) within codethat defines the invisible IFRAME 107 begins counting. Such timers arewell known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Once the timer reachesa configurable threshold value, the invisible IFRAME 107 sends a requestfor updated data to the server 104. The server 104 relays to theinvisible IFRAME 107 updated data comprising instructions to modify thevarious updateable objects 120A-F within the updateable HVAC schematic300. For example, the invisible IFRAME 107 may receive instructions fromthe server 104 to change the value of the incoming airflow 120A becausethe amount of air passing through the duct has changed. Thus, in certainexemplary embodiments decisions as to what updateable objects 120A-F areupdated, and thus what instructions are generated to cause such updates,are made by the server-side application 102 resident on the server 104.The instructions passed to the invisible IFRAME 107 are a result of thisdecision process. Alternate embodiments may pass raw data, as opposed toinstructions, from the server 104 to the invisible IFRAME 107, andpermit the client 108A to determine what updateable objects 120A-F, ifany, must be changed.

FIG. 3B, the webpage 105 displays a second state of the updateable HVACduct schematic 300. In the example shown in FIG. 3B, presume that twoconditions have changed. First, the airflow temperature has risen byfive degrees Fahrenheit. Second, the damper has been partially closed.The partial closing of the damper diminishes the airflow in thesectional portion of the HVAC duct, and accordingly increases the mainoutgoing airflow. In an exemplary embodiment, remote sensors locatedwithin the physical HVAC duct may have detected these changes andrelayed updated data to the server 104, which in turn may generateupdated data to be sent to the invisible IFRAME 107. Once the invisibleIFRAME 107 executes its timed request to the server 104, the updateddata is passed to the invisible IFRAME 107. Upon receiving the updateddata from the server 104, the IFRAME 107 has caused the values of theairflow temperature updateable object 120B′, the main outgoing airflowupdateable object 120C′, the sectional outgoing airflow updateableobject 120D′, the damper position updateable object 120E, and the damperdisplay updateable object 120F′ to be updated. In this manner, a usermay have accurate information regarding the current airflow in a remotebuilding displayed in an easy to recognize format, without manuallyrequesting new data and without having to refresh the entire web page105. Although the above example includes only temperature, position, andairflow as variables, many other factors may be monitored and updated aswell. For example, humidity, chemical composition, volume, ambient noiselevel, and luminosity all may be monitored factors in various systemscompatible with the web page object update system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the logical operation of a method 400according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Themethod 400 begins at starting block 401 and progresses to step 405,wherein a web page data file 103 is loaded into a web browser 112 and aresulting webpage 105 is displayed on a display monitor 116. The webpage105 includes an invisible IFRAME 107 and at least one updateable object120 that is external to the invisible IFRAME 107. Next, a timer isinitiated at step 410. The timer counts to an administrator-definedthreshold value in order to represent a duration of time. At step 415,the timer is monitored to determine whether the threshold value isreached. If at step 420 it is determined that the threshold value of thetimer has not been reached, the method returns to step 415 to continuemonitoring the timer. When it is determined at step 420 that thethreshold value of the timer has been reached, the method advances tostep 425 where the invisible IFRAME 107 initiates a request for updateddata from a remote server 104. In response to the request for updateddata, the invisible IFRAME 107 receives from the server 104 the updateddata at step 430. The updated data may comprise instructions forinstructing the invisible IFRAME 107 to update or otherwise modify theupdateable objects 120 of the web page 105.

Once the updated data and instruction set is received the method movesto step 435. At step 435, the invisible IFRAME 107 interacts with thewebpage data file 103 to update the updateable objects 120 of the webpage 105 that are external to the invisible IFRAME 107, in accordancewith the updated data. Following step 435, the method 400 is repeatedfrom step 410, where the timer is reset to again count to the thresholdvalue. As may be seen from FIG. 4, the method 400 comprises a loop forautomatically and periodically updating updateable objects. Theembodiments described herein are by way of example only and are notintended to limit the scope of the present invention in any manner.Alternate embodiments of the present invention may include additionalfunctionality not explicitly described herein. For example, in analternate embodiment, the timer may be activated only in response to auser input, and then deactivated in response to a second user input. Asanother example, alternate embodiments of the present invention may makeuse of inline frames with dimensions other than a height and width ofzero, without affecting the performance of the invention. Additionally,the present invention may be useful in connection with any applicationprogram that is capable of processing a webpage data file and displayinga resulting web page, such as a word processor with appropriateextensions or an HTML editor. Many other modifications to the inventionwill become evident to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of thepreceding description of exemplary embodiments. Therefore, it should beunderstood that the scope of the present invention is limited only bythe following claims.

1. A method for updating objects contained within a web page,comprising: displaying a web page; creating a frame having a height ofzero and a width of zero within the web page; displaying outside theframe at least one updateable object within the web page, wherein the atleast one updateable object corresponds to an HVAC system; configuringthe frame to periodically request updated data from a server, theupdated data comprising an instruction set for causing the frame toupdate the at least one updateable object; configuring the frame torequest the undated data from the server in response to a timermaintained on a client reaching a threshold value, wherein the timer isconfigured to be initiated as a function of creation of the frame; andconfiguring the frame, in response to receiving the updated data, tocause the at least one updateable object to be updated, such that theupdating of the at least one updateable object updates only a portion ofthe web page.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least oneupdateable object is an HTML element.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe instruction set comprises a Script that is executable by the framewithout user interaction.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein causing theat least one updateable object to be updated comprises interacting withan external Script running within the webpage external to the frame inorder to cause the external Script to modify the updateable objectwithout refreshing the web page.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theupdated data is generated by a Java servlet executed by the server.
 6. Amethod for displaying on a webpage dynamically changing conditionswithin a building HVAC system, comprising: receiving from a sensor anindication of a first state of a condition within the building HVACsystem; transmitting to a web browser executed by a client device awebpage including a frame having a height of zero and a width of zeroand an updateable object, the updateable object displaying the firststate of the condition within the building HVAC system; configuring theframe to request updated information regarding the condition within thebuilding HVAC system in response to a timer maintained on the clientdevice reaching a threshold value, wherein the timer is configured to beinitiated as a function of web browser execution by the client device;periodically receiving from the sensor an indication of a second stateof the condition within the building HVAC system; in response toreceiving the indication of the second state of the condition,generating an instruction set for instructing the frame to cause theupdateable object to display the second state of the condition withoutrefreshing the entire webpage; and in response to a request for updateddata from the invisible frame, transmitting the instruction set to theinvisible frame for execution thereof.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereinthe frame comprises an HTML element.
 8. The method of claim 6, whereinthe instruction set comprises a Script that is executable by the framewithout user interaction.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein theinstruction set instructs the frame to interact with an external Scriptrunning within the webpage external to the frame in order to cause theexternal Script to modify the updateable object without refreshing theweb page.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the condition is selectedfrom the group consisting of time, temperature, airflow and damperposition.
 11. A system for updating objects contained within a web page,comprising: a communications device for receiving a webpage data fileand updated data from at least one server; a processor coupled to thecommunications device for executing a web browser, the web browserrequesting, receiving and interpreting the webpage data file, thewebpage data file comprising computer-executable instructions for:creating a webpage, creating a frame having a height of zero and widthof zero within the web page, displaying outside the frame at least oneupdateable object within the web page, wherein the at least oneupdateable object corresponds to an HVAC system, configuring the frameto periodically request the updated data from the server in response toa timer maintained on a client reaching a threshold value, the updateddata comprising an instruction set for causing the frame to update theat least one updateable object, wherein the timer is configured to beinitiated as a function of the web browser requesting, receiving andinterpreting the web age data file, and configuring the frame, inresponse to receiving the updated data, to cause the at lease oneupdateable object to be updated, such that the updating of the at leastone updateable object updates only a portion of the web page; and adisplay device coupled to the processor for displaying the web pagecreated by the web browser.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein theinstruction set comprises a Script that is executable by the framewithout user interaction.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein causingthe at lease one updateable object to be updated comprises interactingwith an external Script running within the webpage external to the framein order to cause the external Script to modify the updateable objectwithout refreshing the web page.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein theupdated data is generated by a Java servlet executed by the server. 15.The system of claim 11, wherein the frame is an inline frame.